Extremely annoying things about roads and idiots driving on them

[kphoger]

What really seems to piss me off on the road is when you're try to pass someone who is going slower than the speed limit, and then they suddenly increase their speed. What also annoys me is when someone speeds past you, gets in front of you, then starts slowing down.

This was especially annoying when I was driving an Isuzu cab-over box truck for a living.  With the pedal all the way to the floor, my top speed was just barely faster than the flow of traffic.  So, when someone would accelerate while I was passing, it was really quite dangerous:  I couldn't accelerate any further to complete the maneuver.

[Flint1979]

What really seems to piss me off on the road is when you're try to pass someone who is going slower than the speed limit, and then they suddenly increase their speed. What also annoys me is when someone speeds past you, gets in front of you, then starts slowing down.

Add to that people who don't speed up to pass large trucks.

Yeah that one really irks me. I was on I-75 riding behind a pickup truck that was in the left lane and was passing a semi. The speed limit in this area is 75 miles an hour and I have my cruise set at 80 this guy does 75 basically the same speed that the semi is moving to try to pass him.

[sprjus4]

What really seems to piss me off on the road is when you're try to pass someone who is going slower than the speed limit, and then they suddenly increase their speed. What also annoys me is when someone speeds past you, gets in front of you, then starts slowing down.

Add to that people who don't speed up to pass large trucks.

Yeah that one really irks me. I was on I-75 riding behind a pickup truck that was in the left lane and was passing a semi. The speed limit in this area is 75 miles an hour and I have my cruise set at 80 this guy does 75 basically the same speed that the semi is moving to try to pass him.

Agreed. I still get annoyed, but can understand somewhat when it's a semi micro-passing another semi (or worse, passing multiple semis in one move), but when someone in a car, pickup truck, or small vehicle that can clearly go much faster is micro-passing, I mean come on just hit 80 mph, get in front, then go back to your speed.

[Flint1979]

What really seems to piss me off on the road is when you're try to pass someone who is going slower than the speed limit, and then they suddenly increase their speed. What also annoys me is when someone speeds past you, gets in front of you, then starts slowing down.

Add to that people who don't speed up to pass large trucks.

Yeah that one really irks me. I was on I-75 riding behind a pickup truck that was in the left lane and was passing a semi. The speed limit in this area is 75 miles an hour and I have my cruise set at 80 this guy does 75 basically the same speed that the semi is moving to try to pass him.

Agreed. I still get annoyed, but can understand somewhat when it's a semi micro-passing another semi (or worse, passing multiple semis in one move), but when someone in a car, pickup truck, or small vehicle that can clearly go much faster is micro-passing, I mean come on just hit 80 mph, get in front, then go back to your speed.

Exactly. I'm pretty sure everyone wants to pass the semi. My goal is to always pass every semi I can. I just hate riding near them.

[sprjus4]

Exactly. I'm pretty sure everyone wants to pass the semi. My goal is to always pass every semi I can. I just hate riding near them.

If I'm behind it with some distance maintaining the same speed, I'm fine with it, but if I'm in the left lane beside it, I want to be there for the shortest amount of time I can be. The last thing I want is that thing to swerve slightly into my lane, and worst case scenario cause an accident, especially on a curve.

It's even worse when it's a narrow non-freeway 4-lane divided highway. I wait for a straightaway, and fly past then decrease speed back down. No way I'm micro-passing when the truck can barely fit in the lane and uses both lanes from time to time just to stay on the pavement.

[tolbs17]

People speeding past you and cutting you off.

[Flint1979]

Exactly. I'm pretty sure everyone wants to pass the semi. My goal is to always pass every semi I can. I just hate riding near them.

If I'm behind it with some distance maintaining the same speed, I'm fine with it, but if I'm in the left lane beside it, I want to be there for the shortest amount of time I can be. The last thing I want is that thing to swerve slightly into my lane, and worst case scenario cause an accident, especially on a curve.

It's even worse when it's a narrow non-freeway 4-lane divided highway. I wait for a straightaway, and fly past then decrease speed back down. No way I'm micro-passing when the truck can barely fit in the lane and uses both lanes from time to time just to stay on the pavement.

That makes sense. Earlier today I was doing 80 mph again on I-75 and was driving over the Zilwaukee Bridge which crosses the Saginaw River at a height of 125 feet in 40 mph winds. I came up next to a semi and just tilted away from him as I was passing him. My car was drifting pretty good. I've gone across the Mackinac Bridge in a blizzard before just before they shut the bridge down because of the weather and got stuck in the UP for the night that one was pretty bad especially as I was on the suspension part of the bridge I could feel it rocking back and forth.

[Flint1979]

I know people on here probably aren't familiar with my area. But the other night I was traveling south on Mackinaw Road approaching Tittabawassee Road in Kochville Township, just outside of Saginaw.

A little north of the intersection with Tittabawassee is a curve and the traffic light has a 90 second red cycle. The light was just going red and I knew it was still going to be red when I got to it so I started slowing down and behind and a truck is approaching me as I'm about 500 feet from the light this truck decides to pass me in the left turn lane and still have to stop for the light. What exactly the purpose of passing me only to stop at a red light I have no idea. So after the light turned green the truck is starting out slow as ever, we got past the turning lane for the oncoming traffic and I passed him back. I just don't understand why people are so stupid. He passed me in a turning lane. I passed him back legally.

I don't see the point in racing up to a red light.

[jeffandnicole]

I know people on here probably aren't familiar with my area. But the other night I was traveling south on Mackinaw Road approaching Tittabawassee Road in Kochville Township, just outside of Saginaw.

A little north of the intersection with Tittabawassee is a curve and the traffic light has a 90 second red cycle. The light was just going red and I knew it was still going to be red when I got to it so I started slowing down and behind and a truck is approaching me as I'm about 500 feet from the light this truck decides to pass me in the left turn lane and still have to stop for the light. What exactly the purpose of passing me only to stop at a red light I have no idea. So after the light turned green the truck is starting out slow as ever, we got past the turning lane for the oncoming traffic and I passed him back. I just don't understand why people are so stupid. He passed me in a turning lane. I passed him back legally.

I don't see the point in racing up to a red light.

Depends how slow you were going approaching that light.  If you were driving at such a slow speed that the trucker was able to pass you and fully get back into the proper lane, you were probably driving a little too slow.  Yes, there's no sense in slamming the brakes at a light, but at the same time you can't inch along as well.  I will sometimes take my foot off the gas approaching a light from a far distance away, but I'm doing so without any traffic behind me.  As always, consider others on the road - because while you may think you know what you're doing, the others have no clue what you're doing.

[Flint1979]

I know people on here probably aren't familiar with my area. But the other night I was traveling south on Mackinaw Road approaching Tittabawassee Road in Kochville Township, just outside of Saginaw.

A little north of the intersection with Tittabawassee is a curve and the traffic light has a 90 second red cycle. The light was just going red and I knew it was still going to be red when I got to it so I started slowing down and behind and a truck is approaching me as I'm about 500 feet from the light this truck decides to pass me in the left turn lane and still have to stop for the light. What exactly the purpose of passing me only to stop at a red light I have no idea. So after the light turned green the truck is starting out slow as ever, we got past the turning lane for the oncoming traffic and I passed him back. I just don't understand why people are so stupid. He passed me in a turning lane. I passed him back legally.

I don't see the point in racing up to a red light.

Depends how slow you were going approaching that light.  If you were driving at such a slow speed that the trucker was able to pass you and fully get back into the proper lane, you were probably driving a little too slow.  Yes, there's no sense in slamming the brakes at a light, but at the same time you can't inch along as well.  I will sometimes take my foot off the gas approaching a light from a far distance away, but I'm doing so without any traffic behind me.  As always, consider others on the road - because while you may think you know what you're doing, the others have no clue what you're doing.

I was going about 25 mph and close to the light. He illegally passed me using the left turn lane to pass me in so that is how close to the light I was. If a cop had seen him do that he would have got a ticket

[kphoger]

Um 80 is the normal speed on a highway in Michigan. I'm not changing how I drive for someone that doesn't understand that the left lane is not a travel lane. I'm driving within the law.

The normal speed limit for a highway in Michigan is 70 mph. It's 75 on some areas as of 2017.

FTFY.  Flint1979 didn't mention the speed limit.

[sprjus4]

There's no reason you need to drive the speed limit in the left lane and block anybody from passing 5-10 mph over. Keep right except to pass.

While technically "illegal", if you're passing a vehicle traveling roughly the same speed as you, pick it up a few mph over and get past them. You're not going to get stopped by a cop for doing 78 mph in a 75 mph with traffic around you flowing 80+ mph. You're not some large semi who can't travel faster than 70 mph, stop micro-passing.

[kphoger]

You're not going to get stopped by a cop for doing 78 mph in a 75 mph with traffic around you flowing 80+ mph.

Especially when the car behind is very clearly not a cop and therefore can't pull you over anyway.

[sprjus4]

You're not going to get stopped by a cop for doing 78 mph in a 75 mph with traffic around you flowing 80+ mph.

Especially when the car behind is very clearly not a cop and therefore can't pull you over anyway.

Especially if that car rides up way faster than you, and is tailgating you. I don't think a cop would be driving like that, and even if for whatever reason it was, he certainly isn't going to pull you over.

[kphoger]

IME, cops are just as likely to race up behind me and tailgate me as anyone else.

[Brandon]

You're not going to get stopped by a cop for doing 78 mph in a 75 mph with traffic around you flowing 80+ mph.

Especially when the car behind is very clearly not a cop and therefore can't pull you over anyway.

Especially if that car rides up way faster than you, and is tailgating you. I don't think a cop would be driving like that, and even if for whatever reason it was, he certainly isn't going to pull you over.

Cops tailgate just as bad, and in many times, worse than anyone else.  I've lost count of the number of state troopers and county sheriff's police that race up and ride my tail just so they can go faster.  They also tend to speed far worse than the average population from what I've observed.

[sprjus4]

^

My point was if the cop is driving that way, which I also have seen, he's certainly not pulling you over for speeding.

[Flint1979]

There's no reason you need to drive the speed limit in the left lane and block anybody from passing 5-10 mph over. Keep right except to pass.

While technically "illegal", if you're passing a vehicle traveling roughly the same speed as you, pick it up a few mph over and get past them. You're not going to get stopped by a cop for doing 78 mph in a 75 mph with traffic around you flowing 80+ mph. You're not some large semi who can't travel faster than 70 mph, stop micro-passing.

Exactly

[CtrlAltDel]

Something that's been happening more and more often, although perhaps I'm just starting to notice it, is, when I'm driving on the interstate, I will spot someone following behind me, not especially closely, but for miles and miles and miles, all without passing or falling behind. If I slow down a bit, they slow down to match, and if I speed up a bit, they match that too.

It drives me crazy, especially at night, when the glare from their headlights in my side mirrors never moves.

For whatever reason, this happened again and again when I was on I-75 in Florida, but recently it's also been happening about once a day elsewhere. It used to be much more rare, though.

Now, I've realized that sometimes, these are just people who are getting off at the next exit, and so passing me isn't really an option for them, but at other times, I've had to slow down quite a bit, down to 45 miles an hour or so, just to get them to finally move ahead of me.

[jeffandnicole]

Michigan: The Land of Lead-Foots

Really? You don't think motorists in other states go 10 mph over the limit? That's minor.

Something that's been happening more and more often, although perhaps I'm just starting to notice it, is, when I'm driving on the interstate, I will spot someone following behind me, not especially closely, but for miles and miles and miles, all without passing or falling behind. If I slow down a bit, they slow down to match, and if I speed up a bit, they match that too.

Some of that can be due to acclimated cruise control, which keeps a motorist a certain distance behind another vehicle. The system is so smooth the driver doesn't realize they have slowed down a bit.

[US 89]

Something that’s been happening more and more often, although perhaps I’m just starting to notice it, is, when I’m driving on the interstate, I will spot someone following behind me, not especially closely, but for miles and miles and miles, all without passing or falling behind. If I slow down a bit, they slow down to match, and if I speed up a bit, they match that too.

It drives me crazy, especially at night, when the glare from their headlights in my side mirrors never moves.

For whatever reason, this happened again and again when I was on I-75 in Florida, but recently it’s also been happening about once a day elsewhere. It used to be much more rare, though.

It’s even worse if they’re match your speed while sitting in your blind spot, which makes it almost impossible to pass cars going just a few mph less than you. Every time I’ve seen this, the speed-matching car has California plates.

[Flint1979]

Michigan: The Land of Lead-Foots

Really? You don't think motorists in other states go 10 mph over the limit? That's minor.

Something that's been happening more and more often, although perhaps I'm just starting to notice it, is, when I'm driving on the interstate, I will spot someone following behind me, not especially closely, but for miles and miles and miles, all without passing or falling behind. If I slow down a bit, they slow down to match, and if I speed up a bit, they match that too.

Some of that can be due to acclimated cruise control, which keeps a motorist a certain distance behind another vehicle. The system is so smooth the driver doesn't realize they have slowed down a bit.

They go more than just 10 mph over the speed limit. I was on I-75 yesterday doing 80 mph, the speed limit is 70 and I'm getting passed like I'm standing still.

[CtrlAltDel]

Something that's been happening more and more often, although perhaps I'm just starting to notice it, is, when I'm driving on the interstate, I will spot someone following behind me, not especially closely, but for miles and miles and miles, all without passing or falling behind. If I slow down a bit, they slow down to match, and if I speed up a bit, they match that too.

Some of that can be due to acclimated cruise control, which keeps a motorist a certain distance behind another vehicle. The system is so smooth the driver doesn't realize they have slowed down a bit.

Do you happen know, offhand, if there's a specific speed range for this type of cruise control? Because, if there is, I could perhaps avoid having to slow down so dramatically.

[webny99]

Something that's been happening more and more often, although perhaps I'm just starting to notice it, is, when I'm driving on the interstate, I will spot someone following behind me, not especially closely, but for miles and miles and miles, all without passing or falling behind. If I slow down a bit, they slow down to match, and if I speed up a bit, they match that too.
...

It's even worse if they're match your speed while sitting in your blind spot, which makes it almost impossible to pass cars going just a few mph less than you. Every time I've seen this, the speed-matching car has California plates.

Agreed (except for the part about California: plenty of native NY'ers do this to me too). This is one of my biggest pet peeves. It's the mindset of "I am in the fast lane, therefore, I must go faster than the car(s) on the right, even if it's 0.0001 mph faster!"

It's like they think that moving up into my blind spot somehow gives them "rights" to the fast lane, because hey, they're passing! Maybe. At some point. Someday. Argh!! Either speed up and go past, or admit this is fast enough! But no, some people just aren't satisfied with me driving "fast" speeds in the right lane, and must instead hang out in my blind spot and make me repeatedly speed up and/or slow down to properly adhere to KRETP.

[vdeane]

Something that's been happening more and more often, although perhaps I'm just starting to notice it, is, when I'm driving on the interstate, I will spot someone following behind me, not especially closely, but for miles and miles and miles, all without passing or falling behind. If I slow down a bit, they slow down to match, and if I speed up a bit, they match that too.
...

It's even worse if they're match your speed while sitting in your blind spot, which makes it almost impossible to pass cars going just a few mph less than you. Every time I've seen this, the speed-matching car has California plates.

Agreed (except for the part about California: plenty of native NY'ers do this to me too). This is one of my biggest pet peeves. It's the mindset of "I am in the fast lane, therefore, I must go faster than the car(s) on the right, even if it's 0.0001 mph faster!"

It's like they think that moving up into my blind spot somehow gives them "rights" to the fast lane, because hey, they're passing! Maybe. At some point. Someday. Argh!! Either speed up and go past, or admit this is fast enough! But no, some people just aren't satisfied with me driving "fast" speeds in the right lane, and must instead hang out in my blind spot and make me repeatedly speed up and/or slow down to properly adhere to KRETP.

Being in the "fast lane" has nothing to do with it.  Happens to me all the time (or did, prior to 2020) passing someone who is in the right lane.